Working with organic producers, specialists, and researchers, a great organic tour of both peanut and cotton production has been planned for Tuesday, August 19th in the Seminole area. The tour will start with registration at 8:00 am at the Gaines Co. Civic Building in Seminole at 402 NW 5th Street (Corner of NW 5th and NW Ave. D). The tour will leave at 8:45 am from the Civic Building and return at 12:20 pm for a sponsored lunch by Birdsong Peanuts. Two continuing education credits for TDA Pesticide Licenses will be offered on the tour. There is no cost to attend!
The first stop on the tour will be at the Neil Froese Peanut Farm just north of Seminole on CR 108 and CR 109 east of Hwy 62 North. At this organic peanut field tour participants will discuss growing organic peanuts and production in 2025. Dr. John Cason, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Peanut Breeder will talk about a research variety trial in this field for organic peanuts. Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomist – Lubbock will be on hand to discuss alternative crops for organic producers. Dr. Emi Kimura, Extension Agronomist and State Peanut Specialist will talk about peanut production in Texas.
The next stop will be at an organic cotton field on the Froese farm close to the peanut field. Tour participants will have a chance to talk about organic cotton on both upland and Pima fields including some skip row cotton. Dr. Ken Lege, Extension Cotton Specialist will talk about the South Plains Cotton trials and issues in South Plains cotton fields in 2025. Dr. Carol Kelly, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Scientist for Cotton Breeding – Lubbock will be on hand to discuss cotton production and breeding in 2025. Dr. Marina Rondon, Extension Plant Pathologist for the South Plains, will be on hand to talk about problems in both cotton and peanut crops.
A special part of the tour will but information about the use of robotics for field operations, particularly weed control in cotton and peanut production. Carbon Robotics, Greenfield Robotics and Aigen have all been contacted about speaking on the tour and if possible, having a crop demonstration.
After lunch at the Gaines County Civic Building, a few minutes will be spent on an Organic Cotton and Peanut Market Update and answering questions for the 2025 season.
Sponsors for the Organic Cotton and Peanut Tour include Birdsong Peanuts, Texas Peanut Producers Board, May Cotton Seed, Golden Peanuts, OrCal, Inc, Texas Earth, South Plains Compost, Kunafin Insectary, Living Water, Viatrac Fertilizer, Certis Biologicals, AgTexas Farm Credit Services, Capital Farm Credit, JH Biotech, Dragon-Line Irrigation, Attune Ag, and New Deal Grain.
Texas A&M AgriLife Organic 